-ito for small and cute, -ón for big, -azo for impact, -ísimo for extremely.
perro → perrito (little dog, puppy)
casa → casita (little house, cozy house)
momento → momentito (just a moment — softener)
café → cafecito (nice little coffee)
| Word ending | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -o / -a | drop final vowel + -ito/-ita | gato → gatito |
| -e | drop -e + -ito/-ita | grande → grandecito |
| 1 syllable | add -ecito/-ecita | flor → florecita |
| -co/-ca | c → qu + -ito | poco → poquito |
| -go/-ga | g → gu + -ito | amigo → amiguito |
| -z | z → c + -ito | pez → pececito |
Un momentito, por favor. (Just a sec, please.)
¿Me das un poquito? (Can I have a little bit?)
Ahorita vengo. (I'll be right back. — Mexico)
Está cerquita. (It's quite close.)
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ón / -ona | big, intense | silla → sillón (armchair), cabeza → cabezón (stubborn) |
| -azo / -aza | big, a blow of | gol → golazo (amazing goal), puerta → puertazo (door slam) |
| -ote / -ota | big (sometimes clumsy) | grande → grandote (huge), palabra → palabrota (swear word) |
| -ísimo/a | extremely | grande → grandísimo, bueno → buenísimo, mucho → muchísimo |
rico → riquísimo (c→qu), largo → larguísimo (g→gu), fácil → facilísimo
1. perro → _____ (little dog)
2. casa → _____ (cute little house)
3. poco → _____ (a little bit — c→qu)
4. Un _____, por favor. (just a moment)
5. gol → _____ (amazing goal)
6. grande → _____ (extremely big)
7. silla → _____ (armchair — augmentative)
8. amigo → _____ (close friend, affectionate)
9. bueno → _____ (extremely good)
10. puerta → _____ (door slam)
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